Ninety years young
Family, friends celebrate as Charlie Bridgham still going strong
By Christine Igo Freeman
Published: Thursday, July 21, 2011 9:04 AM EDT
Charlie Bridgham, center, celebrates his 90th birthday at his former home -- now his daughter Judy’s home at 4 Mill Street -- surrounded by his children, from left: son Gary Bridgham of East Machias, Maine; daughter Judy Fraher of Foxboro; son Eric Bridgham of West Bridgewater; daughter Donna Kemp of Rockland; and daughter Janis Eastwood of Sarasota, Fla. More than 100 guests of all ages joined Charlie for a big party. (Photo by Christine Igo Freeman)
What do you give a man for his 90th birthday? If the man is Charlie Bridgham and you are one of his five children, you plan a backyard party for over 100 guests to delight him with their "presence."
That's just what happened last Saturday afternoon at 4 Mill Street. With tunes such as "Moonlight Serenade" by the Glenn Miller Orchestra and songs by Frank Sinatra filling the hot, summer air; family and friends of all ages celebrated Charlie Bridgham's latest milestone in nine decades of living.
For a man who founded a judo school, started skiing when he was in his 70s and exercises at least five days a week, this World War II Veteran claims, "I should have something else to do."
In other words, despite a heart attack in May of 2010 and knee surgery five years ago, Bridgham continues to keep moving. In fact, he worked out at his judo school the morning of his birthday party.
Charles Henry Bridgham was born on July 20, 1921 in Vermont. He is the youngest of four children and the only boy. He found his way to Foxboro after serving in World War II as a B17 crew chief navigator, drawing maps and flying over Africa. His parents and sister Thelma had moved to Foxboro, so after the war, he came here to live with them.
So began his life as a citizen of our small town.
Little did he know at the time, but there was someone else waiting for him in Foxboro besides his immediate family. The classic story of the girl next door with a slight twist, Jane Dodge was actually the girl across Mechanic Street.
It all began with a dashing black and white framed photo of Bridgham in his pilot's uniform. Jane Dodge first noticed that photo on the neighbor's piano when she was 14 years old and rumor has it there were often lipstick marks on the glass. When the man in the photo arrived in Foxboro, the two met and the rest is history.
The couple raised their five children in Foxboro moving to different houses over the years. There are three daughters -- Donna Kemp, Judy Fraher and Janice Eastwood -- and two sons, Gary and Eric Bridgham. The house on Mill Street where last Saturday's party was held now belongs to daughter Judy, who bought it from brother Eric, who bought it from his parents. The house, as Eric ,explains, "has become the family homestead."
In fact, when Charlie and Jane bought the house on Mill Street in 1979, the Curry family lived next door. The Bridgham's and Curry's are cousins.
When Charlie was approximately 40 years old, he began taking judo lessons at the Attleboro YMCA. Since that time, he has inspired several of his children to also take judo and even founded his own judo school at the old Pratt School in East Foxboro.
For the past 35 years, San Machi has been home to the Foxboro Judo Club. Currently the club has several Senseis including Bridgham and Bob Anton who runs it.
At the party were some of Bridgham's former judo students including Sara Jobin and her brother Andy Jobin. Sara started taking lessons first, but when she came home after judo class and started flipping her brother around the house, Andy quickly decided he better start taking lessons too. According to Sara, "He [Charlie] taught us so much more than judo. He taught us how to behave, be respectful and be a good person."
Al and Bill Rollins are two of Bridgham's nephews. Both shared several memories of their Uncle Charlie. Al Rollins remembers how as a boy he always liked planes and when his Uncle Charlie returned home, they both joined the Civil Air Patrol. Bill Rollins adds, "My uncle is a combination of Clark Kent and Harrison Ford. Mild-mannered on the surface with lots of adventure underneath."
Both talked about their uncle the golfer. Al explains, "Uncle Charlie plays golf too. He says he doesn't lose the balls anymore because they don't go far enough and if he does hit a ball too far, it's no good because then he can't see it."
Al still lives in New England up in Vermont, the state where his uncle and mother were born. Bill lives out on the west coast in California.
Sadly, Bridgham has been without his wife for 20 years. They were married for more than 40 years before her death. He now enjoys sharing his life with a close friend, Ann Parlato, who he met at a family wedding.
Speaking of family, Bridgham has five children, eleven grandchildren, four great grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.
When one of his many guests told him he looked wonderful, Bridgham responded with a smile, "I am wonderful!"
And he is.
Link: http://www.foxbororeporter.com/articles/2011/07/22/features/9910923.txt
Oh.my.word. The whole ordeal stressed me out completely . . . and I was just viewing it through a television screen! Kids running every which way, getting into things, almost getting hurt, nearly knocking sets over, etc. . . Can't fathom the mayhem actually taking place live in Studio 1A. Ann, as usual, handled it all so very well. The Octomom, well, I'm still not sure she's right in the head.
